Japanese man shaming Suvarnabhumi in Thai goes viral
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- Koki Aki is really, really disappointed in his adopted home’s airport, and no one is really disagreeing with him.

The Japanese expat’s detailed report of his miserable experiences at Suvarnabhumi Airport, in which he suggests Thais should be ashamed of their national gateway, has been widely read to a stunning lack of outrage or rebuke.

"I can say Suvarnabhumi Airport is the disgrace of Thailand," he posted online in both Japanese and Thai. "Thai people show terrible service to foreigners at their national airport, the very first entry point to their country."

Aki, who claims to have worked here for over 10 years, listed everything that wrong at the airport, starting with the immigration checkpoint when he stepped off the plane.

"There is a long line at the immigration checkpoint, but the airport did not open the empty counters,” he said. “I ended up waiting 30 minutes."

Sounds like a fast day at BKK immigration, but Aki wasn’t done yet. After that a taxi driver tried to rip him off by demanding THB700 for a ride to Saphan Kwai.

The taxi stand told Aki to get a bigger taxi and gave him a ticket, but instead he asked for the manager. The manager [read more...]

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2015/01/19/japanese-man-shaming-suvarnabhumi-thai-goes-viral


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2015-01-19

Parades, music and dancing is not so important to display Thainess to the tourists.

Displaying Thainess at your national airport, the very first entry point to your country, is more important and will be remembered.

I believe that there is a sense and understanding of priorities missing here.

This cursed airport is the first point of entry into Thailand for most tourists, and the rip-offs, long queues, surly officials and thuggish taxi drivers create an ominous foretaste of what's in store for the remainder of your Amazing Thai vacation. Enjoy your stay, but leave us all your money!

yes with my parents they also charged us 700 Baht....no meter....

Koki Aki would have my vote for Tourism Minister of Thailand. This guy gets it! He understands like no Thai is capable of understanding because of their inbred sense of self-importance and unmerited pride. He very aptly described the Thainess that the rest of the world sees when they come here. Unfortunately what he has to say will fall on deaf ears here in amazing Thailand.

It is the absolute antithesis of tropical calm and harmony. It is like being bashed in the head with a screwdriver.

You go from long walks through a concrete bunker to a scowling immigration man to a taxi who rips you off and then proceeds to drive at the speed of light to your hotel, if he doesn't get lost.

At least you know it doesn't get any worse once you leave the airport.

Good on him, tell it how it is.

“Aren't they a disgrace of this country? They show laziness and lack of generosity to foreigners."

I have said in the article concerning Poll: Discover Thainess campaign that such a campaign should be directed to the Thais themselves because they have lost their Thainess.

When the question "What is there in it for me?" carries more importance than the sense of right and wrong, the Thais have lost their graciousness, which is an important trait leading to genuine friendliness and real smiles.

Now a Japanese is shouting out on this lost of graciousness.

Nothing new here....move along please.

Hes got very valid points on everything he has said

We have all be saying this for years, but with little change from the powers in control.

As Thailand is all about saving face, will be interesting if this Japanese man's rant gains

some traction in social media, and forces the junta to make some changes. Japan carries

a LOT of financial clout here in Thailand, so will be interesting to see what happens...

Good on him, tell it how it is.

It is as King Power designed this airport. Domestic fully serviced by moving walkways and no Duty free. International a 2km. hike through shops controlled by King Power and No moving walkways. A disgrace !

Koki Aki would have my vote for Tourism Minister of Thailand. This guy gets it! He understands like no Thai is capable of understanding because of their inbred sense of self-importance and unmerited pride. He very aptly described the Thainess that the rest of the world sees when they come here. Unfortunately what he has to say will fall on deaf ears here in amazing Thailand.

Not all are deaf, even Costas agreed , so sure also some Thai will.

Good on him, tell it how it is.

It is as King Power designed this airport. Domestic fully serviced by moving walkways and no Duty free. International a 2km. hike through shops controlled by King Power and No moving walkways. A disgrace !

They probably did.....When the airport first opened, I remember that King Power

had so much footage that there was no space left for bathrooms. After some talk

of booting King Power from the airport, I think they make a few concessions

on space.

Suvarnabhumi exemplifies Thainess and is a perfect entrance point for tourist to start discovery Thainess this year

Dated, long lines and rip offs from the get go and Thai officials take no responsibility and do not accept that anything is wrong

Too few and stinky toilets, personell can't speak english, too crowded at the check-inn, not enough smoking area's, no "good day sir" or smile, very long qeueu's, crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality, restaurants can't speak english, no free wifi, too few seats for the A380 plane's, and airline groundstaff can't speak english

Few years ago I waited for an hour to get my stamp/at airport immigration /. Not a pleasant experience spiced up with line cutters. Taxis never overcharged me,though.

we snub our noses at the suvarnambhumi taxi mafia...

now, whenever arriving LOS we would normally do a Novotel rest stopover, but not always.

We usually do longer distance trips out of the airport locale, usually say over to MaeKlong.

Coming in up the underpass ramp, just approach the main Conceirge desk and, with bags in hand get him to call up one of their better quality limo-like taxi type cars ( almost as good as an ozzie VHA, with comfy interiors and aircon that actually works because the driver has left the windows up...

If asked for your room number, just say you've checked out already , and simply provide your LOS mobile number, have a nice meal at the attrium restaurant, and wait for the impending comfy journey. worth every bit the thb1000 for the 2 of us

im just pleased that in 18 years i have never had any of his problems beyond a 30 minute wait at immigration, but even those are few and far between.

good for him for speaking up however, he certainly seems to be far more efficacious at being heard than any of the miserable twunts that post here.

Can't wait for his 2nd instalment, I mean why just stop at the airport! Go on son, give it some!!

It would be interesting for some investigative reporting to hire undercover foreigners to join the taxi queue and see how often they were given a fixed price versus the meter.

When I queue at immigration I get the feeling the immigration officers are doing me a big favor.

I have never ever seen a smile on any of their faces.

They are grossly understaffed.

The regime cannot and will not accept constructive criticism.

And as for the Taxi-drivers ........... they will never change their ways.

We know and must remember "This Is Thailand"

I have never liked that Airport, just so unorganised, busy, Lifts are a nightmare...

just not ''User Friendly''..

and what a right carry on to get the ''WI-FI''.... all a bit dated....

Too few and stinky toilets, personell can't speak english, too crowded at the check-inn, not enough smoking area's, no "good day sir" or smile, very long qeueu's, crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality, restaurants can't speak english, restaurants can't speak english, no free wifi, too few seats for the A380 plane's, and airline groundstaff can't speak english

"Too few and stinky toilets".

Plenty of toilets and I've never come across a "stinky" one.

"personell can't speak english".

People that travellers need do speak enough English. Don't you speak Thai?

"too crowded at the check-inn"

Check in earlier.

"not enough smoking area's".

That only be a good thing, but who really cares and is it that important?

" very long qeueu's".

Is there one airport anywhere that doesn't have queues?

"crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality".

Definitely not the responsibility of the airport.

"restaurants can't speak english".

The airport doesn't run the restaurants? This is not an English speaking country, you know.

"no free wifi".

It's an airport, do your internet stuff before or after you get there, or use your phone for contact.

"too few seats for the A380 plane's".

Which was there first, the airport or the A380s?

"airline groundstaff can't speak english".

All the staff speak enough English to do their job.

Good on him, tell it how it is.

It is as King Power designed this airport. Domestic fully serviced by moving walkways and no Duty free. International a 2km. hike through shops controlled by King Power and No moving walkways. A disgrace !

The automatic walkways have been removed? Are you sure you're not just a liar?

Gentlemen, there are automated walkways in the arrival circuit, all over the place !

There have never been any automated walkways in the departure concourses, though.

It would be interesting for some investigative reporting to hire undercover foreigners to join the taxi queue and see how often they were given a fixed price versus the meter.

Probably not as often as you'd like to be able to report.

Of all the issues raised by the OP, the taxi issue is the most credible. The airport can remedy this issue quite easily if they wanted. All they would have to do is implement fares by zones to be paid in advance with a receipt.

Too few and stinky toilets, personell can't speak english, too crowded at the check-inn, not enough smoking area's, no "good day sir" or smile, very long qeueu's, crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality, restaurants can't speak english, restaurants can't speak english, no free wifi, too few seats for the A380 plane's, and airline groundstaff can't speak english

"Too few and stinky toilets".

Plenty of toilets and I've never come across a "stinky" one.

"personell can't speak english".

People that travellers need do speak enough English. Don't you speak Thai?

"too crowded at the check-inn"

Check in earlier.

"not enough smoking area's".

That only be a good thing, but who really cares and is it that important?

" very long qeueu's".

Is there one airport anywhere that doesn't have queues?

"crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality".

Definitely not the responsibility of the airport.

"restaurants can't speak english".

The airport doesn't run the restaurants? This is not an English speaking country, you know.

"no free wifi".

It's an airport, do your internet stuff before or after you get there, or use your phone for contact.

"too few seats for the A380 plane's".

Which was there first, the airport or the A380s?

"airline groundstaff can't speak english".

All the staff speak enough English to do their job.

Spot On!

He should try the Sadao border crossing........ 2 hours queue to be scowled at by immigration.